I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may – light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful.

— John Constable

I recently gave a talk at the Gainesville Fine Arts Association (GFAA) member's meeting about unique perspectives through the art of photography. I had never spoken to a group of people about my process and, admittedly, I found the prospect intimidating yet slightly exhilarating. But thanks to the efforts of Celia Burger, the delightful artist who invited me to speak, we devised a plan that would mostly banish my fears while ultimately inspiring attendees.

My goal was to be able to reach out to artists of any medium. I wanted to inspire people to really see the world around them. I wanted to encourage artists to not only use photography as an art form in its own right, but to use it as a tool to hone their craft in whatever medium they choose to pursue. To me photography is like instant painting. Having dabbled in numerous art forms over the past 8 years, oil painting included, I felt that I could share a relatable perspective.

I began by describing how I ended up in photography with the style that I've chosen. My journey through research in psychology to woodworking, which ultimately led to photography. In the past year I came to the realization that, for me, photography is about the light, the shape, and the feeling. A certain light, a captivating shape, both stir a feeling inside that screams yes. That's when I know I've found a subject worth fixing the lens on. I then briefly discussed the elements and principles of design. All of this was to stimulate my audience in anticipation of our hands on activity. I wanted everyone to spend ten minutes wandering around the gallery, inside or out, looking for unique perspectives and subject matter to take a photo of. I encouraged them to step out of their comfort zone and to look for things that sparked them. Afterwards we would load images onto my laptop and critique

I wasn't sure how people would react to this type of activity, but was pleasantly surprised to see enthusiasm and excitement as they moved about the room looking for their own unique perspectives. The results were exciting! Several attendees were gracious enough to allow me to share some of their images with you. I was inspired by what I saw that evening both in imagery and enthusiasm displayed by attendees. It was heartwarming to say the least. People got the message. Objective achieved!

This entire experience sparked something within. I have decided to start offering walkabouts. Perhaps you're a budding photographer looking for some guidance? Or maybe you're a seasoned painter stuck in a rut? Regardless of your medium or skill level I would like to help you find your spark. More details to come. Sign up for my newsletter to get the scoop. In the meantime feel free to contact me if you have any questions or ideas.